CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the Study
The Nigeria petroleum industry has been confronted by two sapping over the years. The problems related to the activities of militants and oil pipe vandalism. While the former has significantly reduced in the after math of the Amnesty deal in 2009 by President Musa Ya’adua, the latter appears to have gone beyond repair both in incidence and effect.
Indeed, the occurrence of oil pipeline vandalization has been strongly demonstrated by its nexus with economic, environmental and humanitarian losses and consequences. It has been observed by the researcher through the residents and Pentecostal pastors of the churches located at Arepo Town especially Ebute area and its environments about the fluctuation of their peaceful living which adversely affect the growth of churches. And this has been a major concern to many inhabitants and pastors in this area despite all efforts.
However, it has been noticed that given all the parameter of church growth they find out that it did not yield positive result. Therefore, attention has to be drawn to oil pipe vandalization that may be responsible. As a result, the researcher is of the opinion that may be one of the contributing factors in Ebute and its environment at Arepo Town in Ogun State is the pronounced effect of oil pipe vandalization which in some cases has been observed. Now, the researcher believes that the thorough investigation is needed to ascertain whether this is so or not as to the case of Christ Apostolic Church, Triumphant Family and the residents of Ebute, Arepo Town, Ogun State. The researcher is interested because, as a potential pastor, it is his desire to make sure that the causes and effects of these vandalism are identified and the way they have deprived the society of her peace alongside with the growth of the church. Thus he considered that this research is worthwhile and that is why it is carried out.
- Statement of the Problem
It has been observed that some establishments and church founded / planted within the area of researcher’s case study have no appropriate map – out skills development that should enable them to cope with challenges of growth due to the unforeseen ugly occurrences that usually caused by vandals.